Disney is partnering with Howard University to help provide opportunities for underrepresented students in media and entertainment.
The initiative, Howard University’s Disney Storytelling Foundation, was announced by The Walt Disney Company on Sunday at the Culture Essence Festival.
The multi-year program offers scholarships over five years for student projects focused on animation, digital design, gaming, journalism, live action, performing arts, product design, visual design, virtual reality and more, according to the company. .
Disney is also sponsoring a new creative coworking space at the university and says it will provide access to speakers, mentors and internships for students in the program to help spark interest in areas needed to build future careers in storytelling.
“At Disney Brands, we work to amplify voices in need and untold stories,” said Jennifer Cohen, director of corporate social responsibility. “The Disney Storytellers Fund in Howard will help support students and the innovation and creativity that the university has fostered for more than 150 years. We are excited to help the next generation of black storytellers bring their ideas to life.”
Phylicia Rashad, dean of Howard’s Chadwick A. Bosman College of Fine Arts, added in a statement: “Our students at the College of Fine Arts find their creative expression in many ways: in the performing arts, animation and design. Products we use in life. The Disney Storytellers Fund is a tremendous support to our emerging artists as they explore and develop their potential across all disciplines and disciplines.”
The program is part of Disney’s social investment and collaboration, including STEM programs for school-age children, to increase access to careers in storytelling and innovation for those who have historically been underrepresented.
Also at the Essence Festival on Friday, Disney revealed the name, arrival date and more details about the reimagined Splash Mountain ride, which has been criticized for its racist imagery. A revamped attraction called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Debuting at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in late 2024.
Recently, the company has been widely criticized for calls for a lack of response to the “don’t say gay” bill. Florida eventually voted to remove Disney from its special fiscal district, though the end result of that bill remains uncertain.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
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